BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday that China and the United States are in close communication on a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.

Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the annual session of China's national legislature, Li said "diplomatic authorities of the two countries are already engaged concerning a face-to-face meeting" between the two presidents.

The China-U.S. relationship is crucial not just to the two countries themselves, but also to regional and global peace, security, and stability, he said.

"Hence we must work together to continuously take it forward," he said.